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February 2017
THE KEYSTONE HIKER Preserving Pennsylvania’s Footpaths since 1956
Contact us: 46 E Main St, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 / 717-766-9690 / [email protected]
MEMBER CORNER
Registration Now Open for KTA's Spring 2017 Hiking and Meeting Weekend
New Event!
The Black Forest Trail Slackpack Thruhike!
May 19-22
Check the Events page on the website for information.
Keystone Trails Association Welcomes New Members!
Did you know that KTA is a membership-based organization?
Since 1956, we have depended on contributions from hikers and hiking trail advocates like you to help us
achieve our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking
opportunities in Pennsylvania.
KTA extends a warm welcome to our 210 newest members, who joined KTA between July 16, 2016 and
January 15, 2017! Thank you to the following individuals and families for joining Pennsylvania’s only
statewide hiker advocacy organization:
Mark Beaver
Lucille Cantwell
David Walton
David Webb
Bronson Christopher Clark
Brittany Evans
Lynn Fiery
Matt Fiery
Lisa Fogg-Evans
James Henry
Robert Higham
Laura Houck
Matt Kurowski
Samuel Lapp
Ken Martin
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Kristin Omlor
James Patounas
Abigail Pflumm
Alexes Shelton
Alyce Stiles
Bryan Sullivan
Michael White
James Gradizzi
Kelly Marsico
Judy Mcelwain
Deb Reis
Fladmark Woodworks
Piljo Yae
Carlos Inacio, Jr
Connie Monaghan
James Tubay
Ann Dybalski
Cody J. Lewis
James D. Lewis
Brian Smyth
Robert Middeke-Conlin
John White
Jill Galusky
William Koontz
Heather Sickinger
Raymond Sickinger
Carl Stauffer
Erica Wood
Jacob Benoit
Matthew Bluske
Avegail Borines Colegado
Vincent Carrano
Nicholas Ciprero
Amy Ciprero
Michael Dibiase
Michael Fitzgibbons
Tyler Gault
Steve Gergely
Colleen Gergely
Mike Julian
Grace Julian
Karl Kuhn
Melanie Kuhn
Robert Martin
Eric Miller
Douglas Morgan
Sean Otto
Justin Smith
Ron Sutton
Douglas Abram
Christian Glotfelty
Jodi Myers
Stephen Nowak
Michelle Rice
Nate Seigel
Nathaniel True
Eric Wilkins
Laura Heacock
Julie Hunter
Sheri Rothrock
Glenn Stauffer
Celeste Jones
Howard Lenzer
Rayanne Aiken
Alex Galasso
Matthew Lepera
Carly Rose Snare
David C. Smith
Stephen Aldridge
Mary-Anne Westfall
Lori Kerr
Dan Kerr
Virginia Morin
James Devine
Rachel Schmid
Louisa Amsterdam
Robert Leverock
Marybeth Lewis-Leaman
Brian Mcpherson
Shaun Thomas
Anna Vandam
Emily Hribick
Joe Hribick
Margaret Drake
Andrew Evick
Bryan Niederberger
Ryan Shenck
Dianne Franco
Katie Mae Diller
Kim Gibson
Steven Holgate
Janet Mason
Lori Miller
Tyler Seiverd
Abigail C. Weidner
Ryan Barr
Leigh Anne Crouthamel
Jonathan Frederick
William Kreider
Pamela Runkle
Christopher Callan
Renee Callan
Benjamin Hollinger
Marissa Mckinley
Terry Walker
Andrew Weismantel
David Bruce
Timothy Coldren
Carly Gable
Rebekah Low
Beth Schneider
Ashley Betlock
Jeremy Bryington
Stacie Clune
Omar Esh
Daniel Howell
Chris King
Robert Krais
Eric Loose
Alicia Nademus
Susan Neff
Claire Piorkowski
Dan Piorkowski
Amanda Rosencrance
Derek Vaughn Shaw
James Walker
Shanna Wiand
Veronica Williams
Karl Barrus
Tracy Caldwell
Tony Caldwell
Erica Caldwell
Helder M. Falacho
Patrick Kinnier
Kelly Kline
Ki Mun
Robin Ports
Mike Rotkiske
Caitlin Rotkiske
Jonathan Sensenig
Katherine Solitrin
Brian Weismantel
William Miller
Timothy Wyant
Christine E. Inman
Doug Van Brunt
Sherry M. Ferguson
Linda Poluch
Amelia De Chicchis
Magdalena O'Brien
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Scott Robinson
Tom Schwarz
Laura Turner
Rhonda Hough
Andrea Burns
Dana Collingwood
Richard Ford
Sandy Beck
Eric Durante
Debora F. Follin
John Lingenfelter
Robert Mitchell
Christopher Beiter
Ashlee Smith
Steven Adams
Alfred Fornicola
Theresa M. Vitolo
Diane Aiken
Jack Peck
Judith Gantz
John Smith
Fr. Charles Zlock
John Cosenza
Asuncion Arnedo
Amy Neff
Mark Hilliard
Kimberly Bachman
Steven Bachman
Angela Cosenza
Steve Dargitz
Jennifer Fowler
Charles Frost
Danielle Frost
Frank Hoffman
Dawn Kulbacki
Donna Stolz
Susan Weida
Karan Pruszynski
Louis Sabo, Jr
Benjamin P. Ziegler
Daniel Miller
Kristi Miller
Jennifer Kaye Runkle
Christopher Wilson
Sarah Wilson
KTA relies heavily on its members’ dues contributions to fund its work in support of Pennsylvania’s hiking
trails. Hiking may seem free, but hiking trails are not a work of Mother Nature—they are built and maintained
by people who care enough about hiking to devote their precious free time to ensure hikers can benefit from
Pennsylvania’s trails. Each year, hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours of their time to building
and preserving the state’s trails. Volunteer programs like KTA’s Trail Crew depend, in part, on financial
support from people like you so that our committed volunteers can continue to keep your favorite trails
accessible and safe. Join KTA today for only $15—and make a difference in your neck of Penn’s Woods!
The KTA Board of Directors Held a Meeting on January 7, 2017
The Minutes, the Executive Director's Report, and the Treasurer's Report are available to reference on the KTA
website under “News.”
Notice to Council: KTA's Board of Directors has Recommended a Change to
the By-Laws to be Approved in April by the Council
The proposal will change the term of the president of the Board of Directors. "An individual may serve no more
than three consecutive 1 year terms as president.”
Website Update! Thanks to Our Rock Star Volunteers,
KTA-HIKE.ORG Gets an Upgrade
Desktops and Mobile-Phones Welcome. Launching early February.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Perks of Membership
Keystone Trails Association Members Now Enjoy a 10% Discount
when they shop at Appalachian Outdoors in State College
YOUR HIKING ADVOCATE
Advocacy in 2017
by Joe Neville, KTA Executive Director
We believe KTA will face the following issues in the upcoming year:
1. A proposal that would allow political appointees to make decisions on Public/Private Partnerships such as
golf courses, water parks, office buildings and hotels by allowing private sector development in State Parks.
2. Sunday Hunting – the Pennsylvania Game Commission and National Rifle Association are planning a “major
push” to revise the law to allow more opportunities for hunters to hunt on Sundays.
3. A regulatory change that would charge ALL users of state gamelands (hikers, birders, dog walkers, trail
runners, etc.) a fee to access those lands and trails.
We're announcing the launch of a new feature on the website:
Legislation KTA Is Following
Stay tuned for breaking developments in our newsletter or, request to be added to the Action Alert network:
send an email to [email protected].
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interviews Joe Neville
about the Allegheny National Forest proposing to open up some hiking trails to mountain biking.
Update: KTA has taken a position opposing mountain bikes in Tracy Ridge.
Tracy Ridge Project – MSTA’s Letter to the Forest Service
by Ed Lawrence, MSTA Volunteer and KTA Trail Care Chair
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Introduction
These comments on the Allegheny National Forest's "Tracy Ridge Shared Use Trail Project" proposal were
submitted on behalf of the Mid State Trail Association in response to the proposal's 41 page Environmental
Assessment (EA). The EA was itself developed by the ANF in response to public comments generated by the
original "Scoping Proposal" which had set out the parameters of the project which would open sections of the
currently 'hiking only' Tracy Ridge Trail System to mountain bikes. These comments are meant to bring to the
attention of the Forest Supervisor the weaknesses, inconsistencies and contradictions in the EA, proposal and
project.
--------
To the Attention of Forest Supervisor Sherry A. Tune:
Tracy Ridge Shared Use Trail Project Proposal
Comments:
These comments are being sent to you on behalf of the Mid State Trail Association (MSTA), an all-volunteer
organization dedicated to maintaining, improving, and protecting the Mid State Trail (MST) and the quality of
the hiking experience that it provides for its users. The MST, Pennsylvania's longest and wildest footpath, is a
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources designated 'hiking only' trail.
Regarding the Proposed Tracy Ridge Shared Use Trail Project, the MSTA opposes the Forest Plan amendment
that would remove the bike prohibition and we oppose the recession of the 1994 order that prohibits bicycle use.
We support Alternative No.1 / No Action.
We agree with the validity of the 2007 Forest Plan assertion that 'bicycle use is unsuitable' on Tracy Ridge
Natural Recreation Trails based on the 1994 finding that 'the soils and topographic conditions of the area do not
support' their use. The Proposal's Environment Assessment (EA) seeks to discount this finding by saying that
'no analysis has been found to substantiate these statements'. However, the EA also tells us that mountain bikes
were known to be riding the area prior to the finding, and so we must conclude that there were sufficient
problems with that use that triggered the prohibition. It is probable that on-the-ground trail conditions at the
time prompted and corroborated the 1994 finding.
This also explains why the trails would have been in need of rehabilitation. We believe that deference should to
be given to the competence of this professional site specific assessment that would have been based upon direct
observation. Prohibiting mountain bikes from using the Tracy Ridge Trails was a sound and correct
management decision then, and remains one now.
The Proposal and EA consistently refers to these trails as being 'underutilized' by the hiking community as an
underpinning and rationale of the proposal, but without supplying any benchmark standards or criteria for what
would be considered optimal utilization for this area. Tracy Ridge's use levels are compared unfavorably with
other hiking destinations in the National Forest but, again, without any context to determine if these other areas
may, in fact, be being over-utilized. The proposal also glosses over the extent and degree to which use figures
for these areas may be skewed by the presence of a trailhead bathroom. Sometimes more use is not ipso facto
better use, from either a recreationist's viewpoint or a management perspective. The lack of a substantive use
metric and analysis is a major failing to a proposal that then becomes premised upon a subjective, pejorative
and nebulous concept of 'underutilization'.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
What we do know about the Tracy Ridge Trail System is that in the 1990s it was, according to the EA, a
'magnet for day hiking and backpacking'. This description is supported by the Allegheny National Forest Hiking
Guide put out by the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club (Fourth edition, 1999) which says that the Tracy
Ridge Trails get 'heavy' use. The EA also tells us that the Forest Service 'has not adequately maintained the
system for a number of years', and that after being abandoned due to 'limited resources' use of some sections of
the trail has reportedly diminished. It should not be a surprise that hikers would lose interest in those parts of a
trail system that are not being adequately maintained. However, did the Forest Service ever reach out to hiking
organizations before determining that the only salvation for Tracy Ridge was to open it to mountain bike use?
The Keystone Trails Association (KTA), Pennsylvania's only statewide hiking organization, has had a robust
Trail Care Program since 1985 that helps to maintain hiking trails across the state, but has never been contacted
about partnering with the ANF to address the maintenance issues at Tracy Ridge.
The EA also consistently labels the Tracy Ridge Trail System as a prospective 'high quality' biking opportunity,
but is it really? According to the EA, mountain bikers prefer a single track trail that offers 'variety', 'flow',
'slope', 'curve', 'technicality' and 'sinuosity'. However, in order to allay concerns about user conflict, the trail is
described as being wide and flat, or relatively flat with excellent sight lines, or, elsewhere, as having a mostly
gentle grade. The pictures of trail segments included in the EA also show a trail that does not conform with
bikers' preferences. The EA further states that the machine built Jakes Rock Trail will have the sought after
'flow', as opposed to Tracy Ridge which is 'fairly flat' with 'rooty/rocky uneven tread' which, it says, makes it
good for 'beginners and intermediate riders'. This hardly seems to be the constituency that this proposal was
supposedly developed for or the type of trail riding these groups reportedly want. The EA also makes the claim
that there will be little incursion on the North Country Trail because the trail sections that reach it will be signed
as closed to bikes and 'not easily rideable by the casual mountain biker', but the 'casual mountain biker' is not
going to be the problem and is not this proposal's targeted demographic. Experience shows that trail sections
that are 'not easily ridable' are the very ones coveted by hard-core biking enthusiasts.
OTHER POINTS OF CONCERN:
Although the EA portrays, and downplays, shared use conflict and particularly the diminished quality of
experience for hikers as a subjective he said / she said issue, its choice of the Morrison Trail, where bike use is
described as being 'somewhat limited' or 'somewhat low', as the prime example of a shared use trail without
incidents seems beside the point. The lack of user conflict complaints on the ANF can perhaps be attributed
directly to the fact that, according to the EA, shared use trails have 'low bike use' or are 'not favored' for riding.
Interestingly, the EA again uses the Morrison Trail as an example of a trail that does not 'show any additional
wear from bikes', but why should it if it is seldom ridden? We agree that this Proposal 'will undoubtedly
increase the potential for user conflict'. The EA is also quite clear in its bias prioritizing the experience of the
mountain biker, although the biker's subjective desire for a so called 'remote backcountry feel' is never
questioned or scrutinized. Hikers, however, who do not enjoy the experience of being jolted out of that ineffable
mental zone that hiking can produce, by a bicycle bearing down on them are told, quite bluntly, that if they don't
like it they are welcome to go elsewhere.
The EA states that the Proposal was 'carefully crafted to keep bikes off of the hiking-only North Country Trail',
but, realistically, looking at the map, is a bike rider really going to ride 2 miles down the south leg of the Tracy
Ridge Trail, coming to a supposed dead-end trail junction and then turn around? That is highly unlikely.
Experience tells us that there will be a percentage of riders who will ignore any signage or 'education' in pursuit
of the adrenaline thrill. For this same reason, some percentage of mountain bikers will not "stay on the trail
corridor because it is the easiest path to travel' as the EA says it 'expects'. They will, in fact, do the opposite, and
go off trail for exactly that reason. The EA also claims that the 'area will be monitored for compliance', no doubt
with the same lack of resources that were used to maintain the trails to begin with. We believe that this Proposal
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
will not only 'increase the potential for bike trespass on the North Country Trail' but actually facilitate it, putting
at unnecessary risk a section of the NCT that is 'highly valued' by the hiking community.
One of the prime reasons given for opening the Tracy Ridge Trail to bicycles is the need for a new source of
maintainers. The EA suggests that the system will collapse unless the Proposal is implemented. It states that
'currently there are no organized groups that provide maintenance' on the 34 mile system of trails. Yet, two
paragraphs later, it contradicts that assertion when it says that the 'NCTA chapter maintains the NCT portion'
which accounts for about 1/3 of the system. Again, what outreach has the ANF done to hiker groups for
assistance before concluding that mountain bikers are the only group that can save Tracy Ridge? Indeed, will
mountain bikers even actually log-out down trees or will they simply build ramps to juice jumps like they do on
other trails in Pennsylvania, turning the system into a biker friendly obstacle course?
In conclusion, and for the reasons discussed above, the members of the MSTA believe that this Proposal should
not go forward.
Thank you.
Edward Lawrence
President (Volunteer) Mid State Trail Association
MAINTAINER’S CORNER
It’s Here! The 2017 Trail Care and Crew Schedule!
Before you go, please read out Trail Care and Crew page on kta-hike.org for helpful information and
applications.
April 28 - 30: Trail Care
Black Forest Trail
Leaders: Jenn Ulmer / Donna Thompson
570-854-8316
Ruth Will Cabin at Pump Station Fire Tower
May 6: Code Orange
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center
Leader: Lisa Miller, Center Manager
610-796-3699
Meet: 9:00 a.m.
Camp: Fri./Sat. at French Creek S.P.
May 19 - 21: Trail Care
West Rim Trail
Leader: Ed Lawrence
570-925-5285
Camp: Colton Point S.P., Group tenting area #1
May 30 - June 4: Trail Crew Week #1
North Country Trail in Butler County
Leader: Dave Adams
724-453-1685
Camp: stay in Davis Hollow Cabin, or camp
outside, cabin located in Moraine S.P.
June 6 - June 11: Trail Crew Week #2
Thunder Swamp Trail System
Leader: Ed Lawrence
570-925-5285
Camp: Resica Falls Boy Scout Camp
June 13 - 18: Trail Crew Week #3
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Chuck Keiper / Donut Hole Trails
Leader: Tony Robbins
570-437-0065
Camp: Western Clinton Sportsmen's Association
June 20 -25: Trail Crew Week #4
Mid State Trail, Everett Region
Leader: Deb Dunkle
814-652-2227
Camp: Tenley Park, Everett
June 27 - July 2: Trail Crew Week #5
The Baker Trail
Leader: Dewaine Beard
412-719-9904
Camp: Creek Bend Campgrounds
July 7 - 9: Trail Care
Mid State Trail, Tioga Region
Leader: Pete Fleszar
717-583-2093
Camp: Hills Creek State Park, Organized group
tenting area
August 4 - 6: Trail Care
The Pinchot Trail
Leader: Jeff Mitchell
570-441-2952
Camp: Manny Gordon Picnic Area, Pinchot State
Forest
September 15 - 17: Trail Care
Tuscarora Trail
Leader: Ben Auer
608-772-1715
Camp: PATC cabin at Little Cove
September 29 - October 1: Trail Care
Reeds Gap Spur
Leader: Jenn Ulmer / Donna Thompson
570-854-8316
Camp: Reeds Gap S.P. sites 8 -14
October 7: Code Orange
Gifford Pinchot State Park
W/ Friends of Pinchot S.P.
Leader: Steve Stroman
717-350-0437
Meet: 8:30 at Quaker Race day use area off Pa. 177
Camping available Fri. & Sat.
Friends Group will host Sat. evening cookout for
volunteers
November 3 - 5: Trail Care
Bucktail Path
Leader: Rick Hiemenz
814-706-8218
Camp: Brooks Run Fire Tower Cabin
Trail Care 101: Workshop
Saturday, April 22, 2017 , 9 am—3 pm
Whipple Dam State Park, Petersburg, PA
Join Keystone Trails Association for Trail Care 101
Have you wanted to join a Trail Care, Trail Crew, or Code Orange but felt unprepared?
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Are you interested in finding a way to give back to the trails?
Are you curious about why trails are built and maintained differently, in different places?
Learn the skills, the lingo, the why and how of trail care, and the safety precautions you need to know to
be a Trail Maintainer!
Tentative Trail Workshop Schedule:
9 am—12 pm: “Trail Care 101—The Open Classroom” taught by Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair
What are the projects, duties, and tools you’ll encounter at Trail Care, and how to handle them
Do’s and Don’ts: Trail Care Leaders don’t all agree, but they can all be right
What projects are planned for the 2017 Trail Care and Crew Schedule with KTA
Judgment-Free Q&A
12:30 pm—3 pm: Hike around the lake for hands-on training and discussion of lessons learned.
Apply what you learned in the morning as you see trails with new eyes, and get answers to all the new
questions that arise.
Sign Up by April 14. Lunch included.
Visit our Events Page for the registration form, and mail with payment
to KTA. Direct questions to [email protected].
Feed the Crew: Cooks Needed by Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair
If you’d rather ply a spatula than a Pulaski on a weeklong trail maintenance event, the Thunder Swamp Trail
System work crew would greatly appreciate your cooking talents. Based out of the Resica Falls Boy Scout
Camp from Tuesday, June 6, to Sunday, June 11, this crew week needs a cook. Nothing better than the smell of
French toast and turkey bacon wafting through a campsite to get volunteers excited about rolling out into a
sparkling Poconos morning. Contact [email protected] for more information about what it takes to put on
the apron.
FOR HIKERS
100-Mile Challenge Profile: Donna Stolz
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Your full name: Donna Beer Stolz
Any nicknames?: DB
Your age: 57
Your hometown: Originally from Northern Central Massachusetts,
but have called the Pittsburgh Area home for 26 years.
How long have you been hiking: about 45 years
What is your earliest memory of hiking? Mount Monadnock in
southern New Hampshire when I was less than 10 years old.
Or most memorable hiking experience? Hiking 170 miles of the
Long Trail in Vermont in 2016. Did parts solo, but other parts with
friends. Saw a black bear and a bull moose on the trail! Loved
meeting people from all over the world, esp. on the part of the LT
that was on the Appalachian Trail in southern VT.
Why did you decide to take the 100-Mile Trail
Challenge? Anything that gets me outside any time of the year makes me happy.
What are some of the trails you plan to hike on to meet this goal?: The NCT in Allegheny Forest, Laurel
Highlands, The Baker Trail, the AT in PA.
What is your #1 favorite hiking trail in PA, and why is it your favorite?: I am on the Board of the Rachel
Carson Trails Conservancy and we oversee the Rachel Carson Trail, the Baker Trail and the Harmony Trail. I
have lots of fond memories of the Baker and the Rachel. But I am really interested in seeing more trails in PA.
What is your favorite thing about hiking?: Nature. Birds, flowers, plants, bugs, animals, rocks, weather.
Who is sponsoring you so far (friends, family, co-workers, hiking club, etc)?: Family so far. Looking for
other sponsors.
How did you hear about KTA/ first get involved with KTA?: The KTA is a “clearinghouse” for all PA trails.
The go to place to find out what hikes/trails are available.
Do you have any advice to new hikers?: Make it your hike. If you want to learn bird watching, wildflower
identification, figure out animal tracks, or identify all those so many mushrooms that pop up all year long, that
is great. If you rather the hike be a mechanism for challenging yourself physically, that’s great too. Another
option is to just enjoy quiet time with friends and/or family, and that in itself is calming. And don't forget the
seasons. A hike on a trail in summer will be totally different in winter or in early spring or fall. But remember,
any one hike can be many things, so make it what you want it to be. There is no correct “way”, otherwise you
won’t be inspired to get out on the trail.
What is the one thing you’ll never hit the trail without?: Tied: 3 things: Trekking poles, water, camera.
Do you have a favorite nature/ hiking quote that you can share with us (either your own or someone
else’s)?: No excuses!
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Anything else you’d like to share with us?: I am so appreciative that we have trails to hike on. I am
committed to make sure we keep them for our children and our great, great, great grandchildren and beyond!
(learn more about the 100-Mile Trail Challenge on our home page, kta-hike.org)
Did you Hike a First Day Hike?
Tell us your story!
Share your pictures!
Jody Phillips, KTA and Berks Community Hiking Club member,
submitted this picture from French Creek State Park's incredible turnout.
Send all pictures and documents to [email protected]
The Keystone 49: Peakbagging in Pennsylvania
(Climbing the Keystone State’s Beautiful Mountains and Vistas)
by Jeff Mitchell
Check out Jeff’s incredible list and take note when he’s bushwhacking if you’re planning to take his advice.
https://endlessmountains.wordpress.com/2016/12/25/the-keystone-47-peakbagging-in-pennsylvania-climbing-
the-keystone-states-beautiful-mountains-and-vistas/
Walk with Gantz: The Loyalsock Trail by Dave Gantz, KTA Board of Directors
Dave recently dedicated himself to writing a monthly column about backpacking trails he’s hiked in
Pennsylvania.
The Loyalsock Trail (LT) is a well-maintained, linear trail traversing approximately 60 miles of Loyalsock State
Forest in north-central Pennsylvania. The western trailhead is on Route 87 northeast of Williamsport, Lycoming
County; the eastern trailhead is just off Route 220 near Laporte, Sullivan County. Numerous side trails provide
alternative hiking opportunities throughout the state forest. Backpacking the entire trail requires multiple days
of consistent climbing and descending. The effort is worth it, though; the LT features several waterfalls and
stunning vistas. The trail is maintained by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, along with
volunteers from the Alpine Club of Williamsport and KTA. There have been several relocations and trail
updates in the last few years. The main trail is now blazed with yellow discs with a red LT label.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Recently, my buddy Eriks and I enjoyed a 3-day end-to-end hike of the LT.
Six o’clock AM Friday morning didn’t come easy; hiking is free,
but getting on the trail is not, and sometimes we hikers have to work hard
to earn 3-day weekend adventures. Anyway, we started at the eastern end
of the LT, which is backward in the eyes of most LT hikers.
We thought it best to navigate the long shuttle drive on day 1 rather than day 3.
First lesson of the weekend—distinguish between the yellow discs
with the LT label and the yellow discs with the X or XX label.
We learned this less than a half mile from the start. Second lesson—if you enjoy rocks, the Haystacks area is
really, really great.
If you don’t know anything about rocks, the Haystacks area is still spectacular and could be an idea summer
swimming hole. Third lesson—wear blaze orange. It’s officially late fall in Pennsylvania when you have to yell
over the sound of crushed leaves to talk while walking. The presence of armed humans hiding in the woods
while wearing blaze orange is also a dead giveaway. Really, though, we saw about a dozen people on Friday,
which was strange for us rural central Pennsylvania folk, but we managed.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
We descended steeply into Worlds End State Park on Friday afternoon and climbed back out of the valley
before dark. The elevation change was tough, but I’m glad that we got through it on day 1. The day ended at a
nice, backcountry campsite just outside the state park boundary.
The fourth lesson—tough for me to admit—is to go the correct way. Yup, you guessed it—we started day 2
heading in the wrong direction. To our defense, though, we’d collectively walked over 2,500 miles in the
previous 11 months, so mistakes will happen; plus we questioned our decision for a full half mile before
consulting our trail guide and subsequently turning around. Day 2 (our second attempt) began with a warming
climb, followed by a mellow road walk. Eriks and I didn’t stop at the local watering hole, but I’m interested in
hearing from any hikers who’ve visited it. We did encounter wonderful waterfalls and vistas in the afternoon.
There are plenty of campsites all along the LT, so we didn’t have a problem finding an open spot just before
dark.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
The wonderful autumn weather continued on the last day of the trip. The trail was still great, and we were still
working hard to get to the vistas. This leads to the fifth and final lesson—the western side of the LT definitely
has a lot of elevation change.
One advantage to walking westbound on the LT is the long, fun, final descent. Eriks and I hit this descent at
dusk. I fell at least twice on the steep slope, but it was a good time overall. My car was still in the parking lot,
and the motor turned on! Soon we were headed home, happy to have spent 3 more days on trail.
Ohiopyle
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
by Gerry Rowan
I was working on a big item from my bucket list. A summer off and spent on a grand tour of hiking, camping,
backpacking, and fly fishing. The idea was to hook up my travel trailer in late May and not return home until
after Labor Day. I left on a Monday morning in early June from my home in the Lehigh Valley, traveling north
into the Poconos for a few days’ stopover at Tobyhanna State Park. I took time to visit the nearby State Game
Lands 127 to access Brady’s Lake and hike behind the lake. One of the largest and longest-surviving beaver
dams in the state is there. Every few years I make a pilgrimage back to the beaver dam, where I’ll often sit
along the shore to enjoy the placid setting—listening to the sounds of the woods and noting the wildlife
gathering to take advantage of the pond.
My plan was to move every week to a new campground. Leaving the Poconos, I headed north into upstate New
York, traveling through the Catskills and farther still into the Adirondacks. Then I headed southwest for a stop
in the Finger Lakes region. The Corning Museum was on my list for another visit. From the Finger Lakes I
traveled west to Presque Isle State Park, where I spent a week hiking and fishing. I used 2-man kayak—truck-
topped during my travels—to fish the lake for bass. This was an old standby kayak—big and clunky yet stable
on the water, with enough room for fishing tackle.
I had an overall plan but no schedule. Early each week I’d pack up the trailer and move on. Once in place, I
followed my whims and the weather—doing day hikes, overnighters, kayaking, and fishing as the situation
presented itself. I also explored any towns I happened to travel through—sampling the local fare, shopping for
food and camping necessities, and occasionally having a meal at an interesting restaurant.
I had planned this trip many times in my mind. Made a list of camping gear: tent, instant-up awning, cooking
gear, sleeping bag, and the like. Carefully planning to keep the weight as low as possible. Everything would be
packed into the truck cab with enough room for a large cooler. This was specifically geared up for the trip to
Boundary Waters wilderness of Minnesota. I could part the trailer and head off into the Quetico wilderness.
This trip was among the big items on my bucket list—2 weeks canoe-camping and fishing at Boundary Waters.
I arrived in Ely in the middle of my second month out, where I installed the trailer in a campground, picked up
my canoeing permit, and rented an expedition canoe. My kayak couldn’t hold enough gear for a 2-week trip. I
shopped for supplies and arranged for a tow service to get up the lake in a hurry for the first 9 miles, kick-
starting my trip. I followed my “flight plan” and stuck to the suggested schedule, moving on each day to the
next campsite. That worked well. If you stay on schedule, you’re unlikely to overrun or be overrun by other
canoe-campers. It feels like you’re alone in the woods, even though campers are in front of and behind you
doing the same thing.
All in all, the trip was much better than I’d expected. Definitely a double or triple star on my bucket list. That
long, slow paddle back down the lake on the last day was a sad trip. But it was time to move on. I skirted Lake
Michigan and Chicago and headed into southwest Ohio. My destination was Barkcamp State Park, where the
woods, streams, and landscape really made me feel I was home. I found the same mix of trees in the woods, as
well as the same plants, flowers, and wildlife, as in Pennsylvania.
I spent a week there; then I headed east into my home state to Ohiopyle and the state park there. I was
pleasantly surprised to find my campground site wooded, with plenty of shade. I had to skirt the town since the
drive out of town up to the campground was too steep to haul a trailer. I unhooked from the truck, leveled the
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
trailer, dropped the outriggers, hooked up the electric, rolled out the awning, and I was set. By this time in my
trip, I could do a setup in about 20 minutes. Now it was time to explore the town and do some food shopping.
The town and state park were the crown jewels of this trip. The Youghiogheny River; the Laurel Highlands; the
hiking trails, whitewater rafting, and kayaking; the Baughman Rocks and Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area; the
stores and restaurants; the Frank Lloyd Wright houses of Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob—who could ask for
more?
Where to start? Go on a whim, or make a plan? It made sense to do a little thinking. Crowds of people would
seek whitewater rafting and kayaking, as well as the Wright houses, on weekends. So I made those activities
weekday-only events and made hiking, fishing, and other activities weekend events. Local restaurants were
lunch-only destinations—no crowded dinner scenes for me.
Every state park in the area seems to have the term Laurel in its name. You’ll find names like Laurel Summit,
Laurel Hill, Laurel Mountain, and Laurel Ridge on maps, and meandering through the area is the Laurel
Highlands Trail. Naturally, the state flower—mountain laurel—is abundant in the area. In fact, there’s a lot of
both laurel and rhododendron in the forests there. I was too late to see the explosion of color from the laurel in
bloom, but from the dried flower buds I could see that the display had been beautiful. I made a mental note to
get back there in July when the rhodies were blooming.
The Laurel Highlands hike was a 4-day event—2 days out, 2 days back. It was late summer, and the days were
hot and the nights cool. I was living on freeze-dried meals, turkey jerky, and trail mix. The trail was bristling
with other hikers who were also determined to take advantage of a few final days in the woods before Labor
Day. It was 2 days to the Grindle Ridge Shelter Area, then another 2 days back to Ohiopyle. The weather was
pretty good, with only a single heavy shower in the late afternoon of the first day.
Sitting in camp one morning, waiting for the coffee pot to start bubbling, I hatched a plan. I’d kayak down the
Youghiogheny to its confluence with Bear Run, pull my boat into the woods and chain it to a tree, and then hike
upstream to Fallingwater. I bought a kayaking permit and paid to be ferried back to Ohiopyle from
Connellsville. By calculating the time I’d need to reach Bear Run and then reach Connellsville, where I’d
connect with the last ferry of the day, I saw that I had 4 hours or so for a stopover at Fallingwater. A bit tighter
than I wanted, but I could make it work.
The plan was to sneak up on the house and see it in the setting it was meant to relate to. Bear Run meanders
through woods and rhododendrons downhill to the river. The stream has cut its way into the bedrock over the
millennia. What is just a mile by direct flight ends up being somewhere between a mile and a half to 2 miles of
walking—much of it bushwhacking through the woods and around ledges carved by the stream. I crisscrossed
the stream, picking the best route I could, and worked my way upstream. Soon I got my first view of the house.
There it was! Magnificent, light-colored slabs of concrete glowing in the midday sun. As I continued working
my way upstream to the house, I navigated many ledges and other rock outcroppings. All were in a horizontal
plane, and many were cantilevered out over the stream. Now here was a house. An extension of the landscape, it
seemed. Discerning where the house started and the rock ended was difficult. The masterpiece of a long and
distinguished career as one of America’s most influential architects. It was the perfect way to see it—first from
the ledges along Bear Run, then from the leaf cover of the woods. Coming upon the house while hiking
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
upstream puts the house above eye level, with the stream and falls an evident part of the experience. It all had
the exotic feel of a religious experience.
I sat on a flat rock outcropping, absorbing the experience for a good 30 minutes, before moving on upstream
and crossing over a small bridge to tour the house. It had just been recently reopened after a major restoration.
The structure had been reengineered, and the paint was new and fresh. It looked pretty much as I imagined it
would when the Kaufmanns owned it. I still remember emerging from the shade of the woods into the brilliance
of a late-summer midday, with Fallingwater shining in front of me and the sound of water splashing over the
falls.
During my 3 months of travel, I evolved a strategy. Mondays would be my travel days, with few people in the
campgrounds, lighter traffic, and no line at the dump station. On Sunday nights, I’d make a big pot of soup and
bake a loaf of soda bread in a Dutch oven. That would be dinner, with enough left over for lunch and dinner the
next day. Breakfast would be coffee and toasted soda bread with butter and jam. If I were feeling particularly
Irish, breakfast would be toasted soda bread and butter, a slice of cheese, and a Branston pickle. That way I
would not have to cook on travel days. I had many lunches of soup and soda bread in rest stops; I’d pull in and
park near a picnic table, where I’d sit eating lunch and watch the world go by.
When backpacking, I’ve taken to freezing soup in Ziploc bags, wrapping the bags in a camp towel, and packing
them away in my backpack. When they thaw, they become dinner. Depending on the season, this means fresh
soup for a day or so into the hike. Add in griddle cakes or Hoppin’ John, and you’ll have a substantial meal.
Recipe for Camp Vegetable Soup
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered then sliced
1 large leek, well washed and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 or 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
Single 14-ounce can plum tomatoes, chopped with can liquid
Single 14-ounce can tomato sauce or 2/3 cup tomato puree
2 quarts small-sized pasta, any variety
8 ounces chicken or vegetable stock
8 ounces spinach, well washed and drained
¼ cup basil, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon oregano flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cooked rice, Parmesan cheese for garnish; hot pepper flakes on the side
Add the olive oil and onion slices to a soup pot and bring to a sizzle. Reduce the heat to medium low and sauté
for 8 to 12 minutes or until the onion slices are lightly browned. Add the oregano, leek, garlic, celery, and
carrots; then continue sautéing for an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Add the plum tomatoes, tomato sauce or puree,
and chicken or vegetable stock. Bring back to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Add the pasta and return to a
simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stir in the spinach, and adjust the seasoning. Simmer until the spinach is wilted
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
and the pasta is tender; then stir in the basil. Place a scoop of rice in a bowl and ladle the soup over it. Garnish
with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Substitutions: Single 4-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry.
Additions: 3 to 4 heaping tablespoons tomato paste added with the plum tomatoes; single 14-ounce can white
or cannellini beans, rinsed.
Variations: Add chunks of any mild white fish along with the spinach; drizzle a teaspoon of extra-virgin olive
or Asian chili oil over the soup in the bowls.
Recipe for Camp Chili Soup
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½-inch dices
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup tomato paste
Single 14-ounce can fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
½ teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 bay leaf
1 or 2 tablespoons masa harina
2 quarts chicken stock
Add the olive oil to a Dutch oven and heat to hot. Add the chicken and sauté until lightly browned. Add the
onion and garlic and continue sautéing until the onion is translucent. Make a well in the center of the chicken
mixture; add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, and paprika; sauté for several minutes; and stir into the
chicken mixture. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 15 to 20
minutes or until the chicken is tender. Remove the bay leaf and serve.
Substitutions: Turkey (dark meat); beef, pork, or goat for the chicken; lard or bacon fat for the olive oil; sweet
or hot paprika for the smoked paprika; corn flour for the masa harina; water, beef, or vegetable stock for the
chicken stock.
Additions: Single 4-ounce can green chilies with liquid; single 14-ounce can white or yellow hominy, drained;
single 14-ounce can red kidney beans.
Garnishes: Bottled hot sauce; sliced, pitted black olives; crumbled fresh cheese; chopped cilantro, tomato,
green or red bell pepper, or hard-boiled egg; salsa.
Camp Friendly: Add the spices and masa harina to a small Ziploc bag at home. Substitute 2 bouillon cubes and
2 quarts water for the chicken stock (follow manufacturer’s directions).
Recipe for Camp Mac and Cheese
Single 14-ounce package macaroni and cheese dinner
Single 12-ounce can evaporated milk
2 quarts chicken stock
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
2 cups cooked ham, diced
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed (optional)
2 stalks celery, diced
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, colby, pepper jack, Monterey jack, or Swiss)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Add the butter, onion, and celery to a large soup pot and sauté until the onion is translucent. If you add garlic,
do so now and sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil. Add the
pasta from the macaroni and cheese dinner, stir, and reduce the heat to medium; then cook for 5 minutes. Add
the remaining ingredients except the shredded cheese; then bring back to a simmer. Simmer for an additional 10
minutes. Add in the shredded cheese, stirring well; adjust the seasoning; and serve. Serve with a bottle of hot
sauce on the side.
Substitutions: Water for the chicken stock; smoked chicken, turkey, or Spam for the ham; bacon fat for the
butter; 12 ounces elbow macaroni and 8 ounces processed cheese food for the macaroni and cheese dinner.
Additions: ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon thyme; ¼ cup chopped parsley or cilantro; single 4-
ounce can roasted chilies; 1 to 1½ cups salsa stirred in at the end of the cooking process.
CLUB CONNECTION
Building the 2017 Club Calendar
Would you like KTA to promote your club/organization's major events with The Keystone Hiker, on Facebook,
and on our website? It's a perk of membership. Please submit a list (ideally with date, time, location, link to web
page) of only those events that the public should see, to [email protected].
Thank you and happy trails!
NCTA – Butler Chapter Sponsors Cherry Pie Hikes and Reenactments
When: Saturday February 25; 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Keystone Hiker: February 2017
Where: Jennings Environmental Education Ctr. Junction of Routes 8 and 528
What: Select one of six 30-minute HISTORY hikes, Or one of three 45-minute NATURE walks, Or the 7-mile
LONG hike……and enjoy cherry pie (Donated by North Country Brewing, Slippery Rock)
How: Reserve your hiking spot early! Go to: events.dcnr.pa.gov, search “Cherry Pie”…Then select your hike.
How much: $2 donation collected at the event
First hike starts at 9. Last hike departs at 1. Reservations a must.
Sponsored jointly by: Washington’s Trail 1753, Butler Chapter of North Country Trail, Harmony Museum,
Butler County Tourism, and Jennings Environmental Education Center
2017 UPCOMING EVENTS
To learn more about each event, visit our home page to explore event listings, or the Trail Care and Crew page
for the full schedule and more information. Thank you!
February 25: NCTA Cherry Pie Hikes and Reenactments
April 7-9: KTA Spring Hiking and Meeting Weekend - Ligonier
April 22: KTA's Trail Care 101 Workshop, Whipple Dam State Park
April 28 - 30: Black Forest Trail Care
May 6: Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Code Orange
May 19-22: KTA's Black Forest Trail Thruhike Slackpack
May 19 - 21: West Rim Trail Care
May 30 - June 4: North Country Trail in Butler County, Trail Crew Week #1
June 6 - June 11: Thunder Swamp Trail System, Trail Crew Week #2
June 13 - 18: Chuck Keiper / Donut Hole Trails, Trail Crew Week #3
June 20 -25: Mid State Trail, Everett Region, Trail Crew Week # 4
June 27 - July 2: The Baker Trail, Trail Crew Week #5
July 7 - 9: Mid State Trail, Tioga Region Trail Care
July 28-30: KTA’s 14th Annual Prowl the Sproul Hiking Weekend
August 4 - 6: The Pinchot Trail Care
September 9: KTA Trail Challenge 25k and 50k
September 15 - 17: Tuscarora Trail Care
September 29 - October 1: Reeds Gap Spur Trail Care
October 7: Gifford Pinchot State Park Code Orange
November 3 - 5: Bucktail Path Trail Care
Newsletter Submissions This newsletter is published monthly by Keystone Trails Association. Submissions are accepted on a rolling
basis. Opinions expressed are those of the listed authors. The Editor encourages submissions reflecting all
viewpoints, but reserves the right to edit material. You are encouraged to submit material (even just a trail
closing or care alert!) to the Program Administrator, Sara Haxby, at [email protected]. The deadline for
newsletter submissions is the 15th of the prior month. Submissions received after that time will be considered
for the next month.
